Electric-cable conveyance



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. J. VAN DEPOELE.

BLEGTRIG GABLB GONVBYANGB.

(No Model.)

`Pmeted out. 27, 1885.

Q WITESSES N. PETERS. Phm-Limagmphen washington. D. C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2;.

C. J. VAN DBPOELE. ELECTRIC GABLE UONVBYANGB.

(No Model.)

o. 329,104. Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

IJVVEJVTOR ...,f Rd

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

C. J. VAN DEPOELE.

ELECTRIC CABLE CONVEYANCE.-

No. 329,104. Patented Oct. 27, 1885..

mVEJvToR uw@ fC UNITED STATESl PATENT Ormea.. v

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-CABLE CONVEYANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,104, dated OctobergZ?, 1885. y

'Application filed .I une 29 1895. Serial No. 170,112. (No model.)

Toc/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VVAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States of Amer-V ica, residing at Chicago, in the lcounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and, useful Improvements in Electric- Cable Conveyances, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, .in which Figure l shows a side elevation of the way; Fig. 2, an end view of a car in position, with one end removed; Fig. 3, a detail in side elevation showing the arrangement of the gearing, driving-chains, Ste.; Fig. 4, a side elevation of a covered cable with a carin position, but with the sprocket-wheels and chain shown in the preceding figure removed. Fig. shows, on a larger scale, asection of the lcable and negative conductor nwith the support for the latter in position. Fig. 6 shows a side view of a support for the cable to be used in rocky or other suitable localities. Fig. 7 shows a plan of a short section of the covered cable shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 shows a side View of some of thesections of the cable-covering. Fig. 9 is a modification of the same. Fig. 10 is a crossfsection of theeable andits covering. Fig. l1. is an edge view of one ofthe pulleys O, in Fig. 4. Figs. 12 and I3 are sectional details of different forms of the cable-holders shown in Fig. 4. Fig. I4 is an endview of one of the sections of the cablecovering providedy'with ears to receive the link for supporting the negative conductor. Fig. l5 shows two verticalsectionsof one ofthe cable-supporting wheels, taken at right angles to each other.

lIy invention relates to a system of cableways intended more particularly for that class in which electricityforms the motive power, although it may be used with other meansv of propulsion.

The invention consists in the peculiar combinations and the construction and arrangement of parts 'hereinafter described and claimed. v i

Referring to the details of the drawings, A A represent a series of posts, each of which is .supplied with a bracket, B, of any suitable form,

but preferably like that shown in Fig. 2, and having a cap, b, which fits on the top of the post, and a semicircular curved portion, b',

to embrace the post .at a lower point, which this purpose I prefer to make the interior 6o strands,e, of copper, in order that the cable may be a better conductor,and the exterior strands,

` e,of steel, in order that it may be sufficiently strong to withstand the strain and durable enough to withstand the wear to which it will be subjected. Below this cable I suspend a conducting-wire, F, for the return-current,'

.preferably in the following manner: Below the cable E, I attach in any convenient manner, as by soldering or otherwise, a series of 7o clips orhangers, G, each of which partially embraces the under side of the cable, and is provided with a groove, g, in which a link, H, is hung by means of a pin passing through the clip and link. This link carries an insulator, I, Vand frein this insulator `hangs another link," J, secured to another clip, G", similar to hangers G, but rather smaller,which is fastened to the negative conductor F. By this means the cable or positive conductor carries the nega` tive conductor, and yet is perfectly insulated `from it. Suspended from `the cable is a car,

K, of any convenient size, but it should be of such dimensions as t0 have a compartment for the motor and intermediate connections and a compartment for the material to be carried. This car is preferably suspended by a lever, L, and a series of links, M N, carrying pulleys 1 O,w.hich are firmly attached to shafts P, run! ning in bearings in the top of the links M. Each of these shafts carries a sprocket-wheel, Q,on which and on another sprocketwheeLIt, runs a fiat drive-chain, S. The wheel R is keyed fast on a shaft, I, that carries a gear, U, which meshes with'a pinion, V, of an electric motor, IV, or anyf other suitable driving mechanism.

The arrangement of the levers and links abovereferred to will befound to be the preferable arrangement where the way is arranged to run from a higher to a lower level, or the reverse; but where the way is comparatively level the lever L will'be found unnecessary, as in that case each of the links M may be provided with sential.

a flange at its lower end, by which it may be ixedly connected to the car, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

For ordinarily level ways, or where only slight inclines are found, a plain cable can be used to considerable advantage; but where there is a very steep incline the construction of cable shown in Figs. 4 and 7 will be preferable. In this case the cable E will be covered with a series of malleable castings, which I denominate steps These are represented at X X, and, as will be seen on the detail Fig. 7, each consists of a short tube fitting closely around the cable and provided with lugs or cogs x on each side, for a purpose hereinafterreferred to. One end of each of these'steps is provided with tongues or projections while the other end has notches w of corresponding size,y so that when a series of them are set on a cable they are incapable of turning'independently.

Instead of making the steps with tongues and notches, as shown in Fig. 8, they may be halvedl1 onel into the other,.as shown in` Fig. 9, and by making the longitudinal edges of the joints inclined, as shown in said figure, they will become tightened upon the cable as they are driven together'.l For the sake of lightness and economy of material I propose to make them open at top and bottom, as shown at ,1:3 in. Fig. 7, although this is not es- Besides the use of these steps for ascending inclines, it will be seen that they will prevent the wear on the cableitself, as all the wear will come on the steps, and thus the cable may last indefinitely, at least so far as wear from the pulleys O is concerned, because the steps can be removed should they become badly worn, and thus the wearingsurface of the cables can be renewed as often as required. At the beginning and end of each incline will be placed a holder, (shown at Y YQ) through which the cable passes, and which is provided on each side with lugs w at distances apart corresponding to the lugsx on the steps X.l These holders are made in two pieces, which may either be made in the form shown in section in Fig. 12 or 13, in one of which, Fig. l2, one of theparts is made hook-shaped, and the other section is formed to iillin the circle, and having an extension downward, by which itis fastened to the larger piece by means of bolts passing through both. The other form is made as shown in cross-section in Fig. 13. In both cases the holder is preferably secured to an arm corresponding to the arm C,projecting from a post similar to A, on which arm it is secured by means of a nut, which also serves the purpose of securing the two parts together. One end of the holder l is provided with a tongue and the other with a notch corresponding to the tongue and notch on the steps, the object of which is to prevent the stepson the cable from turning. When these steps arey used, instead of soldering the clips G to the positive cable E, I have ears cast on the bottom of .some of the steps, in

which is secured one of the rods H, for carrying the negative conductor F. With this form of cable I propose to use pulleys like that shown in side view at O in Fig. 4 and edgewise in Fig. 11, having a central groove, e, adapted to fit an ordinary cable like that shown in Figs. l and 2, and teetho on each side adapted to pass between the cogs on the steps, as shown in Fig. 4:.

In some cases, in lieu of using posts to support the wheels D or holders Y, Ipropose to use the device shown in Fig. 6, where the locality is suitable, such as the side of hills or mountains. Y In this case lrepresents a round iron bar, which is driven and wedged into a hole drilled intothe side of a rock, and which may be stayed in any convenient manner, but preferably by means of a brace, 2, having the lower half of a boX, 3, cast ou its top, which is provided with a cap, 4, securely bolted to it, which clamps the bar and brace 1 and 2 fast together. On this is secured one of the supporting-wheels D in any convenient manner.

The. wheels D may be made in any known manner; but I prefer to make them with a centrall hub, 7, to receive the supporting-bar, and with side flanges, 8, of thin Bessemer steel, between which are clamped segments of. wood, 9, with the the grain radiating from the center, so that the wear comes on the end of the grain.

To connect the negative conductor F with the motor, I prefer to use a pulley, 5, grooved to approximately correspond inversely with the bottom of the conductor, which pulley isy conductor F, through the bearing 6 and pulleyY 5, as above described.

I do not limit myself to the exact constructhe spirit of my invention. where the cable is designed to be used in a comparatively .level country the lever L may be dispensed with. by firmly attaching the lower end of the links to the car, asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

By th'e construction here shown, as is evident, a very convenient system of conveyance is provided, which will be found particularly advantageous in mining or mountainous countries, or where the surface of the ground is much broken or uneven.

It is evidentthhat theplain uncovered cable may be used on the level portions of the line, and that the covering or steps need only be IOO IOS

M5 tion above set forth',as it is evident that. it may be varied without departing fromv For instance,

used at such points where the incline is very great, as the wheel shown in Fig. 1l will run I and propel the car equally well, whether on the uncovered level cable or on the inclined step-covered cable.

Ihave shown the highest part of the inclined cable supported on apost; but itis evident that in most cases it will be most convenient to use a device like that shown in Fig. 6.

I am aware that iron wires or rods have been used to support a copper conductor hung below it for telegraphing purposes by means of wires surrounding both the iron wires or rods and the copper conductor; but such arrangement could not be used for the passage of a car, as the hanging devices would prove serious obstructors to the passage of the car and the wheel or brush used for making the connections. I am also aware that it has been proposed to carry a cable on supports, from which supports hangs a conductor for the return-current, and I make no claimv to either construction, as I consider them essentially different from mine, one of the main features of which is a supporting-cable provided with hangers rmly fastened at suitable intervals to the under side only of said cable, so as to form a suitable support for the insulating-carriers for the lower conductor, and yet leave the upper part of said cable free for the passage of the car-wheels.

Some of the features herein shown and described are not claimed herein, but form the subject-matter of another application filed July 31, 1885, and numbered 173,190.

1. In a system of electrical-cable conveyance, a cable provided with hangers firmly fixed to the under side of the same for the support of the lower conductor, substantially as described.

2. In a system of electrical-cable conveyance, a supporting-cable and an electrical conductor, the supporting-cable having hangers, as G, to support the conductor, said hangers having a concave upper surface to fit the under side of said cable and hanging from the same, whereby the upper cable is left free for the travel of the cars, substantially as described.

3. In av system of electrical-cable conveyance, a supporting-cable, a conductor below the same, and insulating carriers between them secured to the bottom of the supportingcable and the top of the conductor, substantiall y as described.

4. In a system of electrical-cable conveyance, two conductors, one of which carries the other by an insulating-support, the upper conductor having a hanger, as Gr,'fastened to its bottom only and the lower conductor having a clip, G', attached to the top thereof only, whereby the top of one conductor and the bottom of the other areleft clear, substantially as described.

45. In a system of electric cable conveyance, two conductors, one of which carries the other, hanging device between the two having tially as described.

one part of the same in metallic connection with the upper cable, another part in metallic connection with the lower cable, andan 1nsulating part between the two metallic connections, substantially as described..

6. In asystem of electric-cable conveyance, a positive conductor, E, a link, H, connected thereto, an insulator, I, connected to s aid link, and a second link, J, connecting the insulator with the negative conductor, substantially as described.

7. In a system of electric-cable conveyance, and in combination with the links connecting the lower conductors with its main support, a bell-shaped insulator, as I, provided with apertures to receive said links, one above the bell and the other below the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a system of electric-cable conveyance, a support, an arm, as C, extending horizontally therefrom, a groove-pulleymounted on said arm, a conducting-cable resting on the groove of said pulley, and a conductor suspended below the same, substantially as described.

9. In a system of electric-cable conveyance, a support, as A, having a horizontal axle, a grooved pulley mounted thereon, a main conducting-cable resting in the groove, and areturn-conductor below the same, in combination with a car suspended from the main cable and a motor carried by the same, and electrical connectionsl substantially as described, between the motor and the two conductors, whereby the current operates the motor and the latter drives the car, substantially as described.

10. In asystem of electric-cable conveyance, a supporting and conducting cable, a returnconductor, a lever, L, links M IVI and N, pulleys O, shafts P, wheels Q, a motor, as V, and mechanism, substantially as described, be-

tween the motor and the wheels Qfor driving the car, as set forth.

11. In asystem of electric cable conveyance in which a conductor is suspended belowva supporting-cable, a sectional covering fora a cable, the sections of which at suitable -distances apart are provided with ears to receive supports for the lower conductor, substan- 12. In a system of electric-cable conveyance, a conducting and supporting cable provided with anouter covering of strong wires to sustain the load, and a center of better conductivity to carry the current, both being electrically connected, and a conductor for the return-current suspended below said cable, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses this 27th day of June, 1885.

cHAnLiis J. VAN niironnn.

Vitnesses:

T. J. W. ROBERTSON. PHILIP MAURO.

IOO

IIO 

